Everything you need to know about la rentrée in France: culture, activities, and vocabulary
Why is la rentrée in France more important than New Year's Day? Discover the tradition of "la rentrée! Understand the school calendar, supplies, and activities to speak natural French.
CALENDAR
Estelle Materne, from Parlons French
9/2/20263 min read
Everything you need to know about la rentrée in France: culture, activities, and vocabulary
Why is la rentrée in France so important in September?
In September, summer vacation comes to an end in France. It's time for "la rentrée." School starts back up, but so do medical appointments and leisure activities that had paused for the summer. Shops reopen. All of France gets back up and running!
For French people, this month feels like the real start of the year. Our daily lives align with the school calendar. Even without kids, adults get back into an intense rhythm. For example, if you talk to a French person in September, "next year" means "next school year." It doesn't mean January!
The school supplies headache: France vs. the United States
Buying school supplies (=les fournitures) in France is a real adventure. The list provided by the school is extremely precise. In France, students use the famous 24 x 32 cm notebook with grands carreaux (large grid/French ruled). This specific grid system is called the Seyès rule. These vertical and horizontal lines help children write neatly in a very structured way.
Plus, French students often write with a fountain pen (=un stylo plume) paired with an erasable pen (un effaceur). They store all their pens in a pencil case (=une trousse). We're a long way from the loose-leaf paper with simple lines written in pencil from the United States! In France, pencils are mainly used for drawing or geometry!
Oh right, because in middle school, visual arts classes are mandatory for all students. So you have to buy a whole set of dedicated materials: gouache paint, paintbrushes (=pinceaux), cardstock (Canson paper), India ink (=encre de chine), oil pastels (=craies grasses)... and the list goes on!
Back-to-school sports and cultural activities
In September, French people choose their hobbies (leurs loisirs) for the whole year. It's time for the forum des associations (community club fair). When you sign up, you generally commit for ten months, from September to June. In France, kids love doing several after-school activities. Here are the most popular ones:
Sports: soccer, judo, classical or modern dance, and swimming.
Culture: music theory (learning to read sheet music), drawing, and theater.
Adults also pick up new habits in September! Fitness, tennis, and yoga classes are in high demand. More and more adults are also trying unique activities. For example, some sign up for improv theater (=l'impro.) or foreign language classes!
Essential vocabulary for your conversations
To talk about la rentrée like a native French speaker, use these common expressions:
« On s'y remet »: this phrase means getting back to work or an activity after a break.
« Bonjour le casse-tête ! »: a casse-tête is a hard problem to solve. This casual expression is used for complex planning or logistics.
« Bon courage ! »: this is the magic phrase in September. It's said to colleagues and friends to encourage them as they face the workload.
« Bonne rentrée ! »
Boost your French with the French Vocal podcast!
Want to listen to authentic French and improve your listening comprehension? Listen to the first episode of Season 2 of the French Vocal podcast: "La rentrée." In this episode, I share anecdotes about my family's routine. I also give you advice on getting back into learning a foreign language.
What you'll work on in this episode:
Listening to spoken French at natural speed.
Understanding the details of daily life in France.
Expanding your vocabulary with useful, everyday expressions.
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P.S.: The back-to-school photo tradition isn't as established as in the United States. In France, there are no little chalkboards with the teacher's name or the child's career goals, but families still take a photo of the kids on the first day of school... The photo in this article is from 2019, when my kids entered a French school for the first time!
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